Ridge (1000W/200N)
Ridge Avenue and Brummel Street, City of Evanston

Service Notes:

North Side Division: Skokie branch

Quick Facts:

Address: TBD
Established: March 28, 1925
Original Line: North Side Division: Niles Center branch
Previous Names: none
Skip-Stop Type: n/a
Rebuilt: n/a
Status: Demolished

History: A closer view of the platforms at Ridge. These short platforms could only hold, at most, two CRT cars. The stairs from the station house are in enclosures at the foreground of the platforms. The circular bend of the ends of the platform railings is typical on the "L", seen at many stations, like Morse for instance. (Photo from North Shore Line, from Sunday River Productions) When the line that is now the Skokie Swift first operated as the Niles Center branch of the Northwestern Elevated (1926-1948), there were a number of stops between the two terminals. This was one of three stations in Evanston (the others were Asbury and Dodge) on the east-west leg of the Niles Center branch. Ridge station's entrance was located on the bridge over the tracks. Designed by Arthur U. Gerber, the station had an interesting mix of styles. The front and side elevations, visible from the street, resembled similar stations Gerber designed at Sheridan, South Boulevard, and Central among others, combining elements of Doric and Beaux Arts designs, executed in Terra Cotta. Trademark Gerber details included the laurel-framed cartouches, pair of Greek Revival Doric columns framing the entrance, globed lights and the words "Rapid Transit" above the front door in Terra Cotta. The interior was executed in smooth art marble with a spacious fare control area. On the street elevation, two retail spaces were provided on either side of the entrance. Inside, these flanked a corridor that led to the fare controls, which were located at the back of the building. The rear elevation of the building, however, was a distinctively different style. Encompassing elements such as a stucco exterior, arched windows, and tile roofs over the stairs and platforms, the design of the rear elevation is largely influenced by the Mediterranean style. This Spanish-influenced style makes sense, as the stations of the North Shore Line interurban (which shared the tracks with the "L" between Dempster and Howard) on the Skokie Valley Line between Dempster and South Upton used this style. Thus, Gerber designed the Ridge station such that from the street it resembled the typical stations he was designing for the rapid transit system at that time, but from track level it resembled the other stations on the North Shore Line, whose trains passed (but did not stop or service) the station. The station had short, dual side platforms which could accommodate no more than two or three "L" cars at a time. The west end of the platforms were covered by the street viaduct, while the east end were protected by the depot building overhead and hipped roofs that projected from the underside of the building. Stairs lead from the station house's rear to the east end of the short platforms. In March 1948, the CTA® abandoned service over the Niles Center Line as hopelessly unprofitable and ceased operations over the branch, closing the station. When the North Shore Line abandoned their Skokie Valley Route in 1963, Ridge's demolition wasn't included in the budget of the Skokie Swift's construction (though Main, Oakton, Kostner and East Prairie were), and the station survived until 1970. After closure, the small one-story station house was converted into a commercial structure. This ornate building at one point housed a candy store. By the 1980s, the station building was completely gone and the bridge rebuilt. Ridge served St. Francis Hospital a few blocks north, which still operates.

The Ridge station, looking west, circa 1960. The station house is the brick building on the bridge in the background. The hump-shaped structure in front of it is the back of the station, housing the stairs to the platforms. After closure, the station house was converted into a commercial building, at one time housing a candy store. It was abandoned at the time of this photograph, taken from a moving North Shore Line train. (Photo from North Shore Line, from Sunday River Productions)

Thanks to J.J. Sedelmaier for the information on the stations post-1948 status.